Pune: Australian all-rounder James Hopes has been ruled out of the upcoming IPL due to a knee injury, dealing a blow to Pune Warriors' preparations for the fifth edition of the cash-rich league.

The Warriors bought Hopes from Delhi Daredevils last month only, and was the only overseas player the franchise had signed this season apart from West Indies' Marlon Samuels.

Hopes' absence means Warriors now have two foreign players' slots left to fill after the IPL governing council allowed the franchise an extra foreigner this season to make up for the absence of the injured Yuvraj Singh.

Hopes recently led Queensland to the Sheffield Shield title with a half-century in the first innings and a five-wicket haul in the second.

The Warriors were reportedly in talks with Michael Clarke recently, the Australian captain coming in as a possible replacement for Yuvraj.